Smart Tips for Avoiding a Missed-Flight Nightmare

After being stranded in Los Angeles for 24 hours, I have three tips for the next time you're booking an international flight with a connection.

A funny thing happened on my way to Australia: My flight from New York to Los Angeles was delayed, causing me to miss my flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, not to mention the one from Melbourne to my final destination, Adelaide. At Los Angeles International Airport I was rebooked onto the next flight to Australia. Unfortunately, though, that wasn't till the next night—which meant I was stranded in L.A. for 24 hours and missed a full day of my trip to Oz. The up side? Three tips I can share with you for the next time you're booking an international flight with a connection:

Leave enough time to connect from flight #1 to flight #2.

I didn't book my airline ticket (it was booked by the conference I went to Australia to speak at), but, if I had, I would have left more than the "legal" amount of connecting time required by the airlines. Whenever I book international flights with connections, I go to FlightStats, click on "Flights" and, in the drop-down menu, "On-time Performance Rating," and look at the historical on-time performance rating of flight #1, to get a sense of just how often that flight is delayed. The on-time performance rating of the Delta JFK-LAX flight I took is 0.5 out of 5, which FlightStats characterizes as "very poor." The flight is delayed 67% of the time.

Ask to be put up at a hotel overnight and join the hotel's frequent-guest program.

Delta gave all 15 people who missed their flight to Melbourne a voucher for a free night at an LAX airport hotel. My voucher was for the Crowne Plaza. When I checked in and inquired about Wi-Fi, the front-desk clerk asked if I was a Priority Club member. I am indeed—I've signed up for nearly every hotel frequent-guest program because often you get perks just for belonging. Lo and behold, even though I've got no points or status with Priority Club, I got valuable benefits at that Crowne Plaza: Free Wi-Fi, late check-out, and a free "drink," which included anything I wanted (the only exception was frappuccinos) at the lobby Starbucks the next morning.

Try not to check luggage.

Thank God I took only a carry-on. This meant I could quickly flee the airport to my hotel. I left behind a long line of fellow passengers waiting to be rebooked and retrieve their checked luggage (somehow). I don't know what time they got to their hotels or got to sleep that night. Here's how to fit everything you need into one carry-on.